noun
Common
partition
pah-TIH-shuhn
Partition (noun) means a wall or screen that divides a room or space into separate sections. Example: “A thin partition separated the two offices.”
noun
1
A wall or screen that divides a room or space into separate sections.
"A thin partition separated the two offices."
"We put up a glass partition to make a quiet corner."
"The office had a movable partition between the two rows of desks."
2
The division of a country or territory into separate, independently governed parts.
"The partition of the country in 1947 displaced millions of people."
"The partition of the land left the two halves with different laws."
"Her grandmother often spoke about life before the partition of the region."
3
A separately formatted section of a computer's hard drive.
"He resized the disk partition to make room for a second operating system."
"I created a new partition to keep my photos separate from the system files."
"Each partition shows up as a separate drive on the computer."
verb
1
To divide something into separate parts or sections.
"They partitioned the large room with a folding screen."
"The country was partitioned along religious lines."
"We partitioned the garden into a vegetable patch and a small lawn."
How to use partition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dividing wall, or the act of splitting something — a room, a country, or a hard drive — into separate parts.
Common pairings
partition a room
partition of India
disk partition
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Word forms
- Plural
- partitions
- Third person singular
- partitions
- Past tense
- partitioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A thin _____ separated the two offices.
Etymology
From Latin partitio, "division," from partire, "to divide."
Synonyms
View more →
divider
screen
segment
division
sectionalisation
partitioning
segmentation
sectionalization
zone
dismemberment
dismember
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for partition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for partition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “partition” mean?
The word “partition” means a wall or screen that divides a room or space into separate sections. In plain terms, a dividing wall, or the act of splitting something — a room, a country, or a hard drive — into separate parts.
How do you pronounce “partition”?
“Partition” is pronounced pah-TIH-shuhn (/pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “partition” in a sentence?
Here is “partition” used in a sentence: “A thin partition separated the two offices.”
What is another word for “partition”?
Words with a similar meaning to “partition” include dismemberment and dismember.
What part of speech is “partition”?
Depending on how it is used, “partition” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “partition” come from?
The word “partition” comes from Latin. From Latin partitio, "division," from partire, "to divide.".
Is “partition” a common word?
“Partition” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “partition” have?
“Partition” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wall or screen that divides a room or space into separate sections.
What is the difference between a partition and a wall?
A wall is typically a permanent structural element of a building, while a partition is a lighter wall or screen specifically used to divide a room or space into separate sections, and it may be movable or non-load-bearing. Partitions are often installed after a building's main walls to create flexible interior layouts.
What does partition mean in the context of a country's history?
When applied to a country or territory, partition refers to its division into separate, independently governed parts, often as a result of political conflict or negotiated settlement. This sense is distinct from the physical, in-a-room meaning of the word.
What is a computer hard drive partition?
A hard drive partition is a separately formatted section of a computer's storage, allowing one physical drive to be organized as if it were multiple independent drives, each with its own file system or operating system.
